Arthur Borton

Arthur Drummond Borton VC, CMG, DSO (1 July 1883 in Cheveney, Kent - 5 January 1933 in Southwold, Suffolk) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross.

Borton was born at Cheveney, Kent and was educated at Eton and Sandhurst, before being commissioned into the 60th Rifles with whom he served in the Boer War. He retired in 1910, but re-joined in 1914 and after service with The King’s Royal Rifles he became an observer with The Royal Flying Corps in France where he broke his neck in three places and was declared unfit. Despite this he went to Gallipoli as a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve where he won the DSO. Borton was appointed Second-in-Command of the 2nd/22nd London Regiment (The Queen’s) in June 1916, serving in France and Palestine.

He was a lieutenant colonel in the 2/22nd (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment, British Army during the World War I when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 7 November 1917 at Palestine, Borton deployed his battalion for attack and at dawn led his companies against a strongly held position. When the leading waves were checked by withering fire, he moved freely up and down the line under heavy fire and then led his men forward, capturing the position. At a later stage he led a party of volunteers against a battery of field-guns in action at point-blank range, capturing the guns and the detachments. His fearless leadership was an example to the whole brigade.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, Dover Castle.

References

* [http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/kent.htm Location of grave and VC medal]
* [http://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/militia_vol_territorial/mvt31_1.html The Queen's Royal Surrey Regimental Association entry on Borton]